Genesis 9:1 Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.
I don’t know how I missed the similarity between God’s words to Adam and Eve in the garden and God’s words to Noah when he was exiting the boat, but I absolutely did. Until commentary pointed out the almost identical words, it never even occurred to me.
Genesis 9:2 The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands.
And now I’m left wondering what to do with that information, what does it mean exactly. Noah is the new Adam? That doesn’t sit well somehow. God’s going to try again, using exactly the same words to Noah as to Adam? Take 2? That doesn’t seem logical. What am I missing?
Genesis 9:3a Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you.
Precious Savior, Thank You for the sense of questioning, sense of wonder with which I am approaching Your word as I read it this time. Thank You that words I’ve been familiar with since childhood can bring me new questions and curiosities. Help me to sit with Your word, to question and seek, to draw closer to You with each breath. Amen.
Genesis 9:3b Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.
Have a blessed day.